Historical Research Capabilities

The Bell Family Papers provide a number of opportunities for research. Have students use documents in the collection to investigate Bell's experiments. Then have them conduct outside research on other scientists and inventors that were following similar pursuits.

What was each man's family background? Where were they educated? Where did they live and perform their experiments? What do we know of their characters and personalities?

What were their interests? Who funded their research? What careers did they pursue?

How did their inventions influence society? What impact did they have on their professions and on an average American's daily life?

Alternatively, students can examine Bell's illustration of a proposed Vacuum Jacket and research the context in which Bell began work on the invention, following the death of his infant son, Edward, from a breathing difficulty. Search on Vacuum Jacket to learn of his experimentation.